292210 Sat Mar 15 02:58:32 -0800 2003 15 27 General Chowhounding Topics 0 1594184 I had an intense fruity Tannat from Uraguay for $6 yesterday, and am thirsty for more. I tend to like Cabernets and Syrrahs becouse Chile and Australia make em good for under $12. Anything that France does best I usualy cant afford, and wouldnt mess around with from these cheaper producing countries. I like dry, lingering, tannic wines that jump at you with deep fruit, currants and blueberries. thanks so much for your help Sat Mar 15 02:58:32 -0800 2003 0 budget-wino 1 1594188 We have had a wonderful Barbera from Santo Tomas Winery in Ensanada Mexico, for about $5. I don't know if you can find it where you are, but if you ever get to Norther Mexico, you can often find it. peace, jill Sat Mar 15 04:46:05 -0800 2003 1594184 0 jill 2 1594211 Coppola Rosso, made by Francis Ford Coppola, widely available. Sat Mar 15 11:27:04 -0800 2003 1594188 0 Sandra Levine 1 1594206 Dornfelder from Lingenfelder (Pfalz) More berry fruit with same tannic structure. This is my new favourite find. $8. Sat Mar 15 10:23:28 -0800 2003 1594184 0 Emilio 1 1594213 For intensely flavored, age-worthy, inexpensive red wines I like California Petit Sirahs (but they do need to be close to 10 years old for ideal drinking) and most of the wines from Caparone vineyards in the Paso Robles area (which retail in Trader Joe's for around 8-9 bucks). I am of the opinion that most reasonably priced (read: cheap) Merlots are wimpy, watery wines made for people who aren't sure they really like red wines, but the ones from Caparone are fine and gain in complexity and subtlety as they age. They also do Cabernet, Nebbiolo, Sangiovese, and a couple of other varieties (but no whites). All are unfiltered. Unfortunately, they are available only at the winery and at TJ's. And TJ's usually has only one or two varieties at a time. But I think they offer the most flavor for the fewest bucks. Sat Mar 15 11:35:33 -0800 2003 1594184 0 e.d. 1 1594235 Some of the wines coming out of the non-Rioja regions of Spain are among the best red wine bargains on the planet. Robert Parker called 2001 Castano Solanera from Yecla, Spain "the best wine under $20 he'd ever tasted"...he gave it 93 points. I was able to get a case through a local wine merchant here in the DC area, for $9.99 a bottle. The 2001 Castano Hecula, the Solanera's younger sib, which Parker rated 91 points I got a case of for $7.99 a bottle. Torre de Barreda from Castillo will give you a mouthful of blackberries for $10. Also big, full of berry fruit rated 90 points or more by Robert Parker and around $10 are Capcanes Mas Donis from Tarragona and Castell del Remei Gotim Bru. All are imported by Eric Solomon European Cellars in New York. Sat Mar 15 14:10:03 -0800 2003 1594184 0 zora 2 1594239 Torre di Barreda is imported by the Country Vintner in Virginia. G. Sat Mar 15 14:34:31 -0800 2003 1594235 0 Gargano 3 1594240 Oops. Didn't look closely enough at the label. Thanks for correcting my misinformation. Sat Mar 15 14:37:56 -0800 2003 1594239 0 zora 2 1594258 OK, Zora -- where in DC can we get these Spanish wines?! Thanks Sat Mar 15 17:21:49 -0800 2003 1594235 0 Marty L. 3 1594337 Arrowine on Lee Highway in Arlington is where I got the special deals, and I'm not sure if they are still available at those prices...the same wines are available for a couple of bucks more per bottle (still under $12) at Cecile's finewine.com on Chain Bridge Rd. in McLean-- they have an excellent selection of Spanish wines there. Sun Mar 16 22:32:45 -0800 2003 1594258 0 zora 2 1594299 I just tried the Castell del Remei Gotim Bru 2000 that I got for $9.00. Parker rated it a 92. Excellent, inky, deep grape and berry and leather tastes. Really fills your mouth. Just excellent stuff. Went back and bought 6 more bottles. You really don't have to spend huge $ for huge wine :). Sun Mar 16 10:38:14 -0800 2003 1594235 0 StriperGuy 1 1594248 Cline Zinfandel. The 2000 is deep and complex and only $5.99 a bottle at Trader Joe's. It used to be $7.99 but it came down in price recently. It's our 'house wine' and we love it. Link: http://www.clinecellars.com/winery/pairings.cfm Sat Mar 15 16:13:25 -0800 2003 1594184 0 Natalie 2 1594335 Ours include Cline's Syrah, or Paul Jaboulet Aine's "Parallele 45" Cotes du Rhone. A great feeling, to find a worthy house wine... Sun Mar 16 22:21:13 -0800 2003 1594248 0 GreenStreetThrill 1 1594250 Explore the syrah-based wines from the Languedoc region of France. For example, there's a estate called Ch. La Grande Cassagne, that perennially makes outstanding reds for under $15, and always has a good one around $10. I had a party and served about 3 cases (at $9/bottle) of the 1998 a couple of years back, to rave reviews. Another winery, Chat. La Nerthe, has several well-priced ones as well. There's an excellent wine importer, North Berkeley Wines, based in Berkeley, CA, and has a website, that always has some good, inexpensive reds from the Rhone or Languedoc. I just mail-ordered a case of La Milliere vdp Merlot from them, for $8.95/bottle with a 10% case discount. It's promising to be excellent. Also, I second the recommendation re. Spain. In particular, a producer known as Barsoa makes very good grenach-based reds. Sat Mar 15 16:31:55 -0800 2003 1594184 0 Tom M. 1 1594261 thats easy, hungarian bull's blood. i admit to being a bit biased towards it though. i've had some great very inexpensive cote du rhones too but cannot recall the names. Sat Mar 15 17:24:54 -0800 2003 1594184 0 mrnyc 1 1594270 without a doubt, best under $12 wine I ever had (it was just about $12) was a 1998 Chateau Mont Redon Cotes du Rhone. Had several later vintages which were also very good (the Southern Rhone hasn't had a bad vintage in a while, which is good news because that area produces some of the best value wines in the world, IMHO!) Sat Mar 15 20:18:23 -0800 2003 1594184 0 DanM